THE TEN GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTHMODULE #1

Missouri Association of Local Boards of Health (MALBOH) Presents

TEN GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH

(WHY WE DO THE THINGS WE DO)!

Modules developed by Ross McKinstry, MPH;

Sheila Guice, MPH; and Mahree Skala, MA

MODULE #1

INTRODUCTION—What is Public Health?

OVERVIEW OF 10 GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS

ACHIEVEMENT #1: VACCINATION

Ten Greatest Public Health Achievements United States, 1901-2000

• Vaccination

• Motor Vehicle Safety

• Safer Workplaces

• Control of Infectious Diseases

• Decline in Deaths from Coronary Heart Disease and

Stroke

• Safer and Healthier Foods

• Healthier Mothers and Babies

• Family Planning

• Fluoridation of Drinking Water

• Recognition of Tobacco Use as a Health Hazard

Ten Greatest Public Health Achievements United States, 2001-2010

• Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

• Prevention and Control of Infectious diseases

• Tobacco Control

• Maternal and Infant Health

• Motor Vehicle Safety

• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

• Occupational Safety

• Cancer Prevention

• Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

• Public Health Preparedness and Response

What Is Public Health?

PreventPromoteProtect

Is public health just for those who fall through the cracks..?

CONFUSION OF PH AND MEDICAL CARE

• Medical care typically treats illnesses after someone is sick.

• Public Health attempts to prevent the illness in the first place.

• Upstream versus Downstream

Herd (Population) Health

Public Health Mission

To Fulfill Society’s Interest In

Assuring Conditions In Which People

Can Be Healthy

Public Health is……

• For everyone…every day!

• Public Health makes good fiscal sense because it is cheaper to prevent health problems than to fix them after the fact.

• Example: Flu shots….a $20 shot could save thousands of dollars at the hospital, and there are numerous examples of this type of savings. Dental sealants, clean water, safe food…..

School Dental Check-ups

Mass Immunization Clinics

Progress During the 20th Century

• What was the average life expectancy in the U.S. in 1900?⁻ 47.3 years old

• What was the average life expectancy in 2000?⁻ 76.8 years old

At The Turn Of The 20th Century in the US—In 1900:

• There were 8,000 cars in the US and 144 miles of paved road

• Maximum speed limit was 10 mph in most cities• 14% of the households had a bathtub• 8% of the households had a telephone• 90% of all US physicians had no college

education• 95% of all births were home births

• The average wage earner:⁻ earned 22 cents per hour⁻ averaged $200-$400 per year

In 1900...

• The American flag had 45 stars

• Insulin & antibiotics had not yet been

discovered

• One in 10 adults could not read or write

• Only 6% of Americans graduated from

high school• Marijuana, heroin & morphine were over-

the-counter drugs. Coca-cola contained cocaine.

In 1900...

• Five leading causes of death (in order)⁻ Pneumonia & Influenza⁻ Tuberculosis⁻ Diarrhea⁻ Heart Disease⁻ Stroke

During the 20th Century..

• The health and life expectancy of US citizens improved drastically

• Since 1900 the average lifespan increased by more than 30 years.

• 25 of those added years can be attributed to the efforts of Public Health

ACHIEVEMENT #1Vaccinations

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

• 1900 - 21,064 cases of Smallpox⁻ 894 patients died

• 1920 - 147,991 cases of Diphtheria⁻ 13,170 patients died

• 1920 - 469,924 cases of Measles

⁻ 7,575 patients died

• 1922 - 107,473 cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough)⁻ 5,099 patients died.

Today

• Vaccine-Preventable Diseases at record low levels in the United States

• Smallpox Eradicated• Polio Has Been Eliminated In The Americas• WHO (World Health Organization) Seeks Total

Elimination of Polio in 2015

Today

• Improvement in pneumococcal disease • Varicella vaccine cut chickenpox incidence and

deaths• Hepatitis A has declined drastically

Vaccination - Challenges

• New & existing vaccine supplies & financing must be more secure.

• Parents need to understand the importance.

• We need to reach out to immunize children, especially those under 2!

• Missouri has ranked near the bottom in recent surveys of 2-year-old immunization rates

Policy Issue: Immunization requirements are important

• Recently, attempts have been made to take away the state’s authority to require immunizations for child care and school attendance.

• Immunization requirements have been the driving force behind the reduction in diseases.

• All major medical organizations support the requirements.

References

Ten Great Achievements of Public Health in the 20th CenturyMorbidity and Mortality Weekly ReportApril 2, 1999 / 48 (12);241-243http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056796.htm

Update, May 20, 2011 / 60(19);619-623

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6019a5.htm

Thanks!Questions